Undated (Late 19th Century) Gold Medal for Indiana Champion Rifle-Shot, Junior Division. Gold. 32 mm x 48 mm. 10.9 grams. Awarded to Clarence E. Long. Extremely Fine.A two-part medal, the hanging part is in the form of a target over crossed rifles. A plaque at the center is inscribed COMPETITORS BORN / NOT EARLIER THAN / 1882. It is suspended from a hinged, eagle-topped, pin-back hanger inscribed CHAMPION OF INDIANA. Clarence E. Long of Lafayette, Indiana, gained considerable fame as an exhibition rifle trick-shot performer in his pre-teen years.pAlso included in this lot are several photographic images of Long, one - a carte de visite - showing him as an infant. Three larger (c. 4 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches) sepia cabinet cards show him posing with his rifles and, on a multi-view card, performing various trick shots. This card describes him as CLARENCE E. LONG / AGE 10 YEARS / THE HOOSIER BOY RIFLE SHOT / LAFAYETTE, IND. Additionally, there is a photographic image of the Columbian medal, a target shooting medal from the Columbian Exposition. After a promising start, Long unfortunately died young, at age 15, in 1898. (Total: 6 items)
